You should do a Christmas album with Zooey.

So I've been watching a lot of "New Girl." You are too, right? Don't you love it? Like, in a light "this temporarily erases my memories of the kids throwing up today" kind of way?

But every time I watch it, I think, WOW, those outfits! Shauna would look so cute in that.

WOW, Shauna would buy that onesie in a heartbeat.

WOW, a red dress with turquoise shoes? Really???

Is she reading your mind?? It's getting weird, don't you think?

The most recent episode I saw, where Zooey's character is the LEADER OF A HANDBELL CHOIR was just so, so rad.

Did you know that the church I grew up at had a handbell choir? Yeah. They rocked it at every big occasion and were a GIVEN at Christmas time. Jon Acuff reminded me toinight about what a critical part of Christmas handbells are! Don't you agree?? (I cracked up at his post linked above on wanting your contemporary church to go oldschool at Christmas.)

So tell the truth. Did you ever play the handbells?

That outfit (minus the handbell gloves) has your name all over it!

The point? You and Zooey should do a Christmas album and throw in some handbells. You could wear matching onesies on the album cover too. Except then when she asks you to start a blog with her, it may break her heart when you said "No." You'd have to let her down gently.

Alright, enough of my late night silliness. Here's some of hers, from one of my all-time favorite Christmas movie scenes (turn up the volume, it's sorta quiet).

Boutique on Thursday

Hi friends!

Just wanted to let you know that if you're in the SoCal area, we have a booth at a Christmas boutique Thursday night, displaying all our glorious tidbit wares.

The boutique blog is HERE.

Map to the church is HERE.

We have lots of wreaths, banners, pillows, blankies, and plenty of girls clothing and accessories in sizes up to 4/5 yrs in most things, and up to 8/9 in a few.

Please come say hello if you can! 

 

Our Christmas boutique today

If you're free this afternoon and in the Orange County area, Shauna and I will be displaying all our new tidbit stuff at a Christmas boutique to benefit Acres of Love, an organization that provides housing, care and parenting for orphans in Africa. 

We have a ton of new banners, wreaths and accessories, many for Christmas. Here is the flyer, if you're interested. 

Hope to see you there!

ballerina brain

ballerinas are on my mind.

ella is starting ballet on tuesday.

she doesn't even know it.

her birthday is monday and i am planning on giving the information to her then.

we've been looking at pinterest photos while i pretty much convince her that she wants to be a ballerina.

i'm convinced.

not sure about her.

i went to the dance supply today and got the sweetest leotards.
(you were right about me loving that place)

ballet shoes.

tap shoes.

pink tights.

they tried to sell me a hideous bag.

i think i'll make one.

i hope she like ballet, if only for the photos i dream of taking....

Source: atelier-dartiste.blogspot.com via Shauna on Pinterest

Source: weheartit.com via Shauna on Pinterest

Source: weheartit.com via Shauna on Pinterest

Source: i45.tinypic.com via Shauna on Pinterest

Source: dustjacketattic.blogspot.com via Shauna on Pinterest

Source: middlechildcomplex.tumblr.com via Shauna on Pinterest

p.s. i so badly wanted to just make a collage of a bunch of these pinterest photos.

but instead i tried to do the right thing and embed them so that people could get the credit they deserve.

and seriously, its such a pain.

the formatting is going crazy.

i can't center stuff.

i want to kick the computer screen.

and i'm just trying to be good.

come to the pumpkin patch!

to follow this sweet family to the pumpkin patch....
click here

Printable pretties

OK, the good free printables right now are everywhere, so I just need to share them with you.

They are so great, I'm giving them awards:

1. MOST BEAUTIFUL

Thanks to Megan from Contented Sparrow for this piece of autumn lovely.
(Except it's going to be up in my house year-round, I think.)

2. MOST USEFUL

Designed in order to be used for the Thankful on Paper tradition started up by Rachel over here. Totally using this beautiful paper.

Thanks to Heather from Life Made Lovely for this one. She's such a talented designer. We heart Heather.

3. MOST INSPIRING

You knew Julie would be on the list of award-winners, didn't you? This is inspired by her & Jeannett's upcoming Happy Day Project, about which I'm SO excited.

4. MOST POETIC



Laura from Splendor is responsible for posting this bit of beauty. I love how melancholy it is.


5. MOST LIKELY TO STICK WITH ME

Aly from the mommie diaries created this printable in a series of three. She displays them all on this post so that you can hang them in a series, comprising more lyrics of this great song.
Who doesn't love this old hymn? I already have it stuck in my head.


6. MOST NECESSARY

And when I say necessary, I mean these words are so important. I need to read this every day. Aly posted this one too, since she's got a good eye and a creative brain for stuff like this. Love that girl.


7. MOST ENCOURAGING

Christie from Storehouse Crafts thought to bring back this printable that Heather made last year (Christie links to that post). I'm so glad she reminded me about it! It is so simple and uplifting.
Plus, there's another deer. I like deer.

So have you seen any cute, free printables lately? Perhaps on that little planet of Pinterest?

I'm excited to find some Christmas ones. How perfect for inexpensive, seasonal decor, right? 



linking up with Kristy @ Paisley Jade

My magnum opus is finished

Michelangelo had the Sistine Chapel.
Beethoven had his fifth symphony.
Tolstoy had War and Peace.

I have this.
The piece of art I shamelessly copied from one I saw at Cost Plus. I think it has become my magnum opus, my greatest work. (You know you love how dramatic I am.)

But remember how I started it IN JULY?? I have never spent so many hours on a project in my life. And had I known what kind of time it would have taken in the first place, ummm, I would not have done it.

But I'm so glad I did, because now it's hanging in my entry and it makes me really happy.



And I feel proud of myself when I look at it. Don't you think Casey will be proud of me too, the artist that she is?

Here are a couple more cutey things I recently hung next to the front door. (Excuse the shadows caused by the coloring pages taped to the windows.)

I love my new bulletin board. You can get one here (except I found it at their outlet store for cheap!).
The 4x6 printables were little treats from Blog Sugar if you attended the session with our pal Julie.
The black & white "Blessed" graphic was a postcard in my Blog Sugar swag bag, from here.
The giant-sized push pins are from here.
The key-shaped wall hook is from here.
I won the birdie plaque from a giveaway, made by her. I customized my own saying based on part of this passage. Love this company. Check them out. I got sucked in and bought gifts too.
And the turquoise metal container, which I'm using for mail, is actually from here (their back-to-school section from the summer).
And the calendar! My favorite one. Not practical, but so beautiful. Can't wait to get the 2012 for the same spot. Check it out here. YUM.

What's new around your house??

I know you have some little - ok, maybe BIG - projects you've been workin' on! Show us, show us!

{in the house with Heather today}